SQUASH & RACQUETBALL We will now talk about one of the most popular white collar sports. I would like to point out that I am not a believer in indoor sports but I will try to talk about this branch of sports without bias. Before getting too deep I would like to discuss my reservations. In my first sentence I pointed out that mostly white collar workers favor this sport. According to them this is because their busy schedules only allow for one hour a day of physical exertion. That is why this sport was developed. An unbelievable dynamic physical exertion transpires in this relatively short period of time. In the closed court the constant directional and pace changes mean serious physical burdens for everyone.

From a medical point of view this type of physical load following a stressful mental activity cannot be considered healthy, in fact it can be harmful. Naturally I do not wish to protest against this branch of sport, it is just that I consider the search for harmony and guaranteed organized rest to be the most important. An individual who spends their day using up their mental abilities and in the afternoon or evening spends their time skimming the limits of their physical abilities will eventually be injured or will have to live with some other illness. With this type of lifestyle, walking in nature, reading or quiet discussion is advised to relieve daily stress. Naturally this sport also has its good qualities but I would like to point out that sports are not necessarily healthy at all times and in all amounts. Give our systems time for complete rest as well! Well after my musings let us get to the main point. Players of this sport regularly complain about their hip joints and back pain. The reason for this is the adherent-soled shoes and the hard court. Of course there are one or two ways to prepare for this special burden. The increase in strength of the trunk is of basic importance (picture). Stretching the hips will increase the range of motion.

Supplementary sports: swimming, horseback riding, bicycling. A few words about sports and protective equipment: Typical injuries are ankle sprains which can be prevented by using specially designed shoes. When choosing clothing we have to keep in mind the increase in perspiration. Wear materials that pass on heat and that have a high hygroscopic capacity.

PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR: I have a small anecdote that occurred to one of my university friends. The friend was a dentistry student. He did not usually wear glasses. As a beginner he felt the ball, found it quite soft and so did not have any sense of danger. What he didn’t count on was that the ball got harder under hitting and also went much faster. He found himself in a poor position and the ball hit him in the eye with the speed and hardness of a cannonball. He was diagnosed with a partial retinal detachment. Luckily, following laser surgery he regained total sight but the chances of this were slim. So wear protective eyewear (available even with prescription glasses). Well ladies and gentlemen jump to it! Choose other sports as well for pleasure and wear protective gear.